MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Monday, June 2, that it has ordered the takedown of the online airline booking platform AirAsia Move due to allegations of “unreasonably high” ticket prices. The DOTr is also preparing to file economic sabotage charges against the platform.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon revealed in a briefing that Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez alerted him to unusually inflated airfares on AirAsia Move. Screenshots presented by Dizon showed a Philippine Airlines ticket from Tacloban to Manila for two passengers listed for as much as P77,720 on AirAsia Move, while direct booking with PAL for the same date cost no more than P12,600.

Dizon linked the alleged overcharging to a current transportation crisis in Leyte and Samar, triggered by the closure of the San Juanico Bridge which has limited the movement of goods and people. “Clearly, there’s a crisis there… and they are clearly taking advantage of the situation,” Dizon lamented.

The DOTr had already issued a cease and desist order against AirAsia Move on May 26, alleging “unauthorized sale of airline tickets… at prices exceeding the approved fare structures established by the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board).” While AirAsia Move stated it would comply, it argued that as a Malaysia-headquartered online travel agent, it is not under the CAB’s jurisdiction.

However, Dizon countered, “Within the boundaries of the Philippines, within Philippine IPs, I’ve asked the PNP (Philippine National Police) anti-cybercrime to take it down.” He clarified that the DOTr’s investigation focuses on instances of passenger overcharging, not the airlines themselves. Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla affirmed that while the online platform may not be directly under CAB’s jurisdiction, ticket pricing falls squarely within its mandate, which includes imposing price ceilings on airline fares.

Dizon also disclosed receiving similar complaints about high-priced tickets to Tacloban from the Office of the Civil Defense executive director, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno. The DOTr chief has instructed the CAB to investigate other online platforms suspected of overcharging for tickets to various destinations.